1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Interior & seats Problems

DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. IT STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD AND SPREAD TO THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THE VEHICLE. NO ONE SUSTAINED ANY INJURY DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD THE CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT RESPOND SINCE THE FIRE WAS ON HER PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10145072

Incident

Dec 12, 2005

Mileage

146,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOOP THAT ATTACHES THE HOOD LATCH BROKE OFF ,AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE CONTACT'S SON'S VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY.*AK UPDATED. 01/19/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144999

Incident

Oct 15, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, WOULD HAVE TO USE THE RELEASE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO CAN NOT GET OUT OF PARK, NEED TO USE THE RELEASE TO GET INTO REV, OR DRIVE. BROUGHT IT TO MECHANICE, WAS TOLD NEED CYLINDER- $500.00 RO REPLACE.

NHTSA ID

10088162

Incident

Oct 27, 2001

1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX ISSUE: THE KEY DOES DISENGANGE FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEALER QUOTES $550 FOR CYLINDER, BUT CLAIMS IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE. I REALIZE THAT STEERING FOR THIS VEHICLE IS ALREADY AN ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086086

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

WHILE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED FOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS MECHANIC FOUND THAT ENGINE HEAD CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, AND OIL SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050529

Incident

Dec 18, 2002

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TO THE LEFT, INSTEAD IT TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. *JB. ALSO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION, BRAKES, SEATS, WINDOWS, BATTERY, BULBS, STEERING PUMP, AND THE SUN ROOF LEAKED. PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10014880

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

1) I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS (PLASTIC PART THAT COVERS THE WHITE LIGHT) AND BULB HAVE COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN HIT OR VANDALIZED. THEY HAVE JUST FALLEN OFF. I HAVE CO-WORKERS WHO ALSO OWN THE SAME VEHICLE, SAME YEAR THOUGH SOME ARE NEWER MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO SEE MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH NO COVERS OR BURNED OUT BULBS. 2) ALSO MY FOG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE THIS YEAR THEY BOTH HAVE BURNED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS. 3) I ALSO NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL LETTERS ABOUT MY VEHICLE THERE ARE TWO RECALLS AS OF TODAY. I ONLY HEARD OF THESE RECALLS THROUGH CO-WORKERS. 4) WHEN I START MY VEHICLE IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. IT WOULD NORMALLY UNLOCK WHEN YOU START IT AND THEN LOCK WHEN YOU SWITCH GEARS TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. SOME DAYS IT WILL WORK PROPERLY AND OTHERS IT WILL NOT. 5) MY LIGHT FOR MY SEAT BELT FLICKERS ON AND OFF. I ALWAYS WHERE MY SEAT BELT. I ASSUME THAT THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN I BUCKLE MY BELT, BUT IT DOESN'T.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010245

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS HAD NUMEROUS FALSE AIR BAR WARNIG LIGHTS AND JUST RECXENTLY THE REAR WINDOW DIFROSTER RELAY WIRING BURNT UP THE DEALER SAYS THIS HAPENS AND MY ONLY REMEDY IS TO CHANG THE HARNESS.

NHTSA ID

10005628

Incident

Jan 6, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

HAVE SENT LETTER TO GENERAL MOTORS EXPLAINING THAT THE SEAT BACKS OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DO NOT LOCK 100% OF THE TIME. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT THE SEAT BACKS NEED TO BE RELEASED BY THE BLACK KNOBS ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO USE THOSE TO RELEASE THE SEAT . WHO IS RIGHT, DO I HAVE DEFECTIVE SEATS BY DESIGN OR NOT?I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE AN INSPECTION I NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY TO MY LETTER TO GM EITHER. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

758167

DOME LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES OR MORE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK LOCKS, SEAT BELT INDICATOR, AND CRUISE CONTROL ACTING WEIRD, FUSE REPLACED AND AS SOON AS IT WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE BLEW A FUSE. *YD

NHTSA ID

897357

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WIRING HARNESS THAT PROVIDES ELECTRICITY TO BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WITHIN THE DASHBOARD HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WAS UNCOVERED BY THE DEALER AFTER THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER'S MECHANIC STATED THIS DISABLED BOTH AIRBAGS AND THAT HE HAD PERSONALLY REPLACED AT LEAST 20 OF THESE HARNESSES FOR SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER PERSONAL CONTACT AT ANOTHER PONTIAC DEALER STATED THAT "DOZENS" OF THESE HARNESSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THEIR SHOP. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR OF $400.00 TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM IF NOT UNDER WARRANTY TIMEFRAME. PART HAS SINCE BEEN RE-DESIGNED TO CORRECT HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

744415

Incident

Apr 12, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT25MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD JUMPED IN FRONT OF HER. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, FOUR DASH LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF. THESE ARE FOUR LIGHTS THAT WERE SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD. AIRBAG LIGHT/ABS BRAKES SYSTEM/ CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE/ .LOW TIRE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, SRS LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

868748

Incident

Aug 25, 2000

THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATER AND WAS REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECH NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND ASKED IF I HAD SEEN IT ON. I SAID YES IT HAD BEEN ON BEFORE AND GONE OFF FROM TIME TO TIME. HE THEN SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED ON OTHER GRAND PRIXS AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $200.00 TO FIX IT. HE ALSO SAID WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. BUT MY QUESTION WAS WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM THAT THEY DESIGNED. THERE IS A SBN # 98839010 ON RECORD SEQ 228, DATED 9806 NHTSA SB602269 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

720838

Incident

Mar 28, 2000

VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM (DRIVERS) CREAKING NOISE (I BELIEVE A RECALL IS UNDERWAY). LOOSE TRIM THROUGHOUT. REARVIEW MIRROR REPLACED, BATTERY DIED (CAR WAS TOWED), POWER WINDOW FAILED (DEALER REPLACED), HEADLIGHTS ADMIT MOISTURE, ASHTRAY OPENS BY ITSELF, SEAT SQUEAKS, DASH RATTLES, RATTLE ALSO COMES FROM REAR OF CAR, VEHICLE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT, LEATHER ON SEATS IS CRACKING, KEY KNOB HAS TOO SHORT A RANGE, STICHING IS COMING OFF THE LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL, ALSO THE CLUB LOCK BURNS INPRINTS INTO WHEEL IF LEFT ON IN THE SUMMER SUN, HEADLIGHTS TURN ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, BRAKES STOP WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN OR WHEN COMING OUT OF THE CAR WASH, THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITHCH ON THE PASSENGERS DOOR FELL INTO THE DOOR, VARIOUS RETAINING CLIPS HAVE BROKEN OFF TRIM, ETC.

NHTSA ID

719842

Incident

Aug 28, 1999

DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LATCH.NM

NHTSA ID

608116

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

THE TWO BRACKETS HOLDING THE FRONT SEATBACK TO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE SEAT ARE EXPOSED AND HAVE SHARP EDGES.

NHTSA ID

780263

THE SEAT BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS SHARP AND CUTS CLOTHING WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THIS BRACKET IS EXPOSED ON BOTH FRONT SEATS.

NHTSA ID

540449

ODOMETER READS INCORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

533231

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

TRUNK LOCK CYLINDER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

531926

Incident

Dec 23, 1997

LEATHER SEATS ARE TEARING AT THE SEAMS.

NHTSA ID

527981

REAR SUSPENSION HAD A CREAKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, SUN ROOF CASING BROKE TWICE, AND AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED ON TWO OCCASIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

522566

Incident

Jun 3, 1997

TRUNK LIGHT CAUSED CLOTHING IN TRUCK TO CATCH FIRE. I HAVE THE MELTED LIGHT AND BURNED CLOTHING IN MY POSSESSION. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A GRAVE DANGER TO OTHERS, SINCE I DID NOTHING MORE THAN PUT CLOTHES IN THE TRUNK IN A REGULAR MANNER.

NHTSA ID

526281

PASS-THROUGH TO TRANK LATXH DOES NOT HOLD UNDER HEAVY BRAKING PRESSURE WITH HEAVY OBJECTS IN TRUNK. *AK

NHTSA ID

525161

CONSUMER'S CHILDREN WERE RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THEY HEARD THE SEAT POP, CONSUMER THEN LIFTED THE BOTTOM OF BACK SEAT UP AND NOTICED THE PLASTIC ANCHORS WERE NOT IN PLACE. HE TRIED TO LATCH THEM BACK AND THEY WOULD NOT RELATCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

815468

Incident

Aug 17, 1997

BUCKET SEATS. INERTIA SYSTEM DOES NOT HOLD SEATS STATIONARY. COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

813938

Incident

Jun 24, 1997